Chelmsford housing debate pits past vs. present

Old North Town Hall could contain 17 studio apartments if the Chelmsford Housing Authority gets its way. COURTESY PHOTO

CHELMSFORD -- With nearly 1,400 Chelmsford residents on a waiting list for affordable housing, town officials will be asked to weigh converting two landmark buildings into apartments.

A proposal from the Chelmsford Housing Authority to place affordable rental units inside the old Center and North town halls was met with a room divided last night as residents appeared torn over preserving history and fulfilling a huge demand.

"I do support housing for people in need," Susan Gates said. "But I do not support putting it in the Center Town Hall. That should be our cultural community center."

Peggy Dunn agreed, saying it is "unacceptable" for the Center Town Hall on North Road -- which is often used as an iconic image to portray Chelmsford -- to be gutted for apartments.

Old Center Town Hall could contain 10 one-bedroom units and four studios under the CHA plan. SUN FILE PHOTO

But Dunn and several others said they favor placing affordable units in the North Hall, which has been mostly vacant for the past 20 years.

"Please don't dump on North like you've done in the past," countered resident George Merrill, who gave a passionate speech against putting housing in what he called the "only historically significant building left in North Chelmsford."

Despite claims that the former North Town Hall, on Princeton Street in Vinal Square, is badly in need of repairs, Merrill argued that the structure is "as sound as the day it was built," and reminded the public that the Pop Warner football league still stores equipment in the building.

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Fran McDougall, who favors converting both buildings into affordable units, said, "We don't want to start 'which child do you love best,'" adding that if the town doesn't take care of its people first, there will be no culture to protect.

By redeveloping the sites for housing, CHA Executive Director David Hedison said that more than $1 million of funding from state historical tax credits can be used to preserve the exterior of the buildings for years to come.

Hedison said it's a plan that not only looks to preserve the buildings, but bring additional economic development to both centers of town, put the buildings on the tax roll, and eliminate the need to use town money for maintaining the mostly vacant buildings. But mostly, he said, it would address an unprecedented need for affordable housing in town.

"When people come to fill out an application for affordable housing, I have to tell them it's a seven- to 10-year wait," Hedison said.

CHA's proposal now shows 17 studio apartments inside the Old North Town Hall, and 10 one-bedroom units and four studios for the Center Town Hall, which was closed for the winter to save Chelmsford thousands of dollars in utility costs.

Income limits would be $35,640 for one person and $40,680 for two people, perfect for young professionals, Hedison said.

The town's 15 single veterans under the age of 60 would be favored for the studios in the North Hall.

Hedison also added that the town would save about $40,947 for annual upkeep of the Center Town Hall, including plowing, cleaning, insurance, maintenance and utilities. Long-term capital improvements over the next five to seven years for replacing 30-year-old windows and lead-paint removal are estimated at $310,000.

Selectman Clare Jeannotte said Community Preservation Act money is also earmarked for the purpose of restoring buildings of historical significance.

Jeannotte said she doesn't think the town should rush into making a long-term decision for such a significant historic asset until it looks at all alternative uses.

Chelmsford Veterans Agent Regina Jackson said her office was located in the Center Town Hall for 11 years, and even at the best of times, the building was never fully utilized.

"As a taxpayer, I don't want any more of my money going into this mothballed building," Jackson said.

The Chelmsford Food Pantry has operated in the basement of the Center Town Hall for 16 years. The location makes it easily accessible by bus, and many homeless families currently walk to the pantry from Chelmsford hotels, said Director Sandy Donovan.

Donovan said she's worried about what would happen to the food program if it has to move.

"I was shocked when I found out," she said. "We feed 350 to 500 people a week. I'm worried about how people will get to us."

Hedison said nothing in the CHA's preliminary blueprints is final, and that it's his desire to work with all the people who have "their hearts and souls" in these buildings to make it a project that works for everyone.

CHA will appear before selectmen Monday to request a Special Town Meeting vote on the issue in March.

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